The other two finalists are Libyan writer Hisham Matar's quest to discover his father's fate, "The Return"; and lawyer Philippe Sands' "East West Street: On the Origins of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity."

Stephanie Flanders, the judging panel chair, said Monday that the books share an "emphasis on the first person — and first-hand reporting."

Formerly the Samuel Johnson Prize, the award recognizes English-language nonfiction from any country.